How to apply for Principal, Human Health Risk Assessment, Community Health Impact Assessment, Emerging Contaminants

About Ramboll Management Consulting

Ramboll is a global engineering, architecture, and consultancy firm with a strong focus on sustainability and decarbonization. Its Management Consulting arm helps clients navigate complex environmental, health, and regulatory challenges, making it a leader in the field. Working here means contributing to high-impact projects that protect communities and promote sustainable development.

About the role

As a Principal, you will lead business development, manage client relationships, and deliver technical expertise in human health risk assessment, community health impact assessment, and emerging contaminants. This role is pivotal in expanding Ramboll's Health Sciences practice, requiring a blend of scientific rigor, strategic vision, and commercial acumen. You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to solve complex environmental health problems for industry, government, and legal clients.

A typical day

A typical day might involve leading a client meeting to discuss a risk assessment project, mentoring junior staff on technical approaches, and developing a proposal for a new business opportunity. You could also be reviewing regulatory updates on emerging contaminants or collaborating with colleagues from other practices to integrate health impact assessments into a larger sustainability project.

Who Ramboll Management Consulting is looking for

• Advanced degree (PhD, MS, or MPH) in toxicology, environmental health, epidemiology, or a related field, with 10+ years of experience in human health risk assessment and community health impact assessment.
• Proven track record in business development, including client acquisition, proposal writing, and managing large-scale projects in consulting or regulatory settings.
• Deep knowledge of emerging contaminants (e.g., PFAS, microplastics) and experience with regulatory frameworks such as CERCLA, RCRA, and state-level programs.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to mentor junior staff and collaborate across disciplines, plus excellent communication skills for stakeholder engagement and expert testimony.

Tips for this application

• Highlight your experience with emerging contaminants like PFAS in both technical and business development contexts, as this is a key focus of the role.
• Quantify your business development successes—e.g., revenue generated, clients won, or projects led—to demonstrate commercial impact.
• Tailor your resume to emphasize leadership in human health risk assessment and community health impact assessment, using keywords from the job description.
• Mention any experience working with legal teams or providing expert testimony, as Ramboll serves legal-sector clients.
• If you are applying remotely, address how you will maintain strong client relationships and collaboration across time zones, as Ramboll values teamwork.

What to cover in your cover letter

["Your specific expertise in human health risk assessment and emerging contaminants, with examples of projects you've led.", 'Your ability to generate business and grow client relationships, including metrics or success stories.', 'Your experience working at the intersection of science, strategy, and stakeholder engagement, particularly with regulatory or legal clients.', "Why you are drawn to Ramboll's mission of sustainable development and how you can contribute to their Global Health Sciences team."]

Research before applying

• Ramboll's recent projects and publications in human health risk assessment and emerging contaminants, especially those involving PFAS or community health.
• The structure and key leaders of Ramboll's Global Health Sciences team and how they collaborate with other practices like Water and Site Solutions.
• Ramboll's sustainability goals and how the Management Consulting division contributes to decarbonization and sustainable business models.
• Any news or case studies about Ramboll's work with legal clients or expert testimony in environmental health litigation.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How you would approach a human health risk assessment for a site contaminated with PFAS, including regulatory and stakeholder considerations.
• Your strategy for business development in a competitive consulting environment, including target clients and industries.
• A time you led a multidisciplinary team to solve a complex environmental health issue and the outcomes achieved.
• Your familiarity with key regulations (e.g., CERCLA, Clean Water Act) and how you stay updated on emerging contaminants.
• How you would handle a situation where scientific findings conflict with client interests or public perception.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Focusing only on technical skills without demonstrating business development or client management experience, as this is a principal-level role with commercial responsibility.
• Ignoring the 'emerging contaminants' aspect—many candidates may have general risk assessment experience but fail to show specific knowledge of PFAS or other emerging issues.
• Not tailoring your application to Ramboll's consulting context; generic cover letters that don't mention the company's focus on sustainability or their Health Sciences practice are easily spotted.